In this episode of the Book Deal podcast Madeleine interviews Australian award-winning author Holly Cardamone. Holly's debut novel, Summer, In Between (Hawkeye Publishing, September 2025) is a great one for your beach bag this summer.

Holly shares insights from her book's developmental journey, including a surprising setback when she lost a notebook filled with manuscript ideas on a train in Italy, followed by a decade-long creative detour. She also discusses her manuscript winning the 2024 Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize and the exhilarating process of getting her book published despite numerous challenges. Holly offers valuable advice on writing processes and book promotion strategies. She emphasises the importance of authentic connections within the literary community, engaging with booksellers, and how her background in communications has influenced her successful pre-launch strategy.

As mentioned by Madeleine, join us for a special Zoom Spoiler Book Club with Kate Mildenhall on The Hiding Place on Wednesday 10 December at 7pm. Tickets are free, but you'll need to sign up here.

00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast

01:23 Holly Cardamone's Debut Novel

03:59 Nostalgia and Setting in 'Summer In Between'

05:12 Holly's Teenage Years and Writing Aspirations

06:57 The Journey to Becoming a Writer

12:27 The Lost Manuscript and Family Life

14:23 Writing 'Summer In Between'

19:23 Crafting Characters and Voice

23:47 Writing Romance and Green Flag Characters

30:11 Manuscript Assessment and Revisions

34:12 The Writing Day Dilemma

35:02 Balancing Life and Writing

36:18 Turning 50 and Running a Marathon

39:23 From Manuscript to Hawkeye Prize

39:57 The Joy of Writing Again

42:14 Winning the Hawkeye Prize

47:13 Building Author Connections

50:26 Social Media and Bookseller Strategies

01:00:49 Final Tips and Conclusion

Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love.

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You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

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In this episode of The Book Deal podcast, host Natasha Rai interviews Tom Langshaw, publisher at Pantera Press. Tom discusses his journey from working at Penguin Random House to his current role, explaining the intricacies of the publishing process from manuscript acquisition to promotion. He shares insights on what makes a manuscript stand out, the importance of voice and character in fiction, and the significance of timing and market trends in publishing decisions. Tom also emphasizes the value of respectful and collaborative relationships with authors and offers advice for emerging writers on perfecting their pitches. Additionally, Tom highlights concerns about the consolidation in the publishing industry and the importance of supporting independent publishers.

00:00 Welcome to The Book Deal Podcast
00:56 Meet Tom Langshaw: Publisher at Pantera Press
01:57 A Day in the Life of a Publisher
04:45 The Art of Manuscript Selection
08:31 From Editorial Assistant to Publisher
12:17 Navigating the Publishing Industry
16:06 The Role of Sales and Trends in Publishing
21:19 Transitioning to Pantera Press
32:16 Building Relationships in Publishing
33:21 Connecting with Booksellers
34:34 Reading for Work vs. Pleasure
36:03 Editing Tips for Writers
38:48 Common Mistakes in Pitching
45:43 Trends in the Publishing Industry
48:32 Advice for Emerging Writers
56:39 Exciting Upcoming Books
01:00:13 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love.

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

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Host Tina Strachan dives deep into the world of publishing, interviewing international multi-published Kid Lit author Kate Foster. Kate discusses her most recent book, 'Camp Spooky,' co-written with Pip Harry, and shares insights into the co-writing process, the importance of diversity in children's literature, and her dedication to promoting awareness through initiatives like the Danz Awards and the Author Pen Pals Program. This episode is a treasure trove of advice, experiences, and behind-the-scenes details for aspiring authors at every stage of their writing journey.

00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast
00:56 Special Christmas Episode Announcement
02:25 Interview with Kid Lit Superstar Kate Foster
09:18 The Joys and Challenges of Co-Writing
14:22 Promoting Neurodiversity in Children's Books
16:44 The Dans Awards: Celebrating Diversity in Literature
24:03 Author Pen Pal Program
24:43 The Magic of Author Visits
25:15 Launching the Free Author Pen Pals Program
26:36 Personal Experiences with Author Pen Pals
27:40 The Importance of Literacy and Storytelling
29:39 How to Get Involved with Author Pen Pals
30:39 Being a Good Industry Citizen
31:16 Navigating Rejection and Building Community
34:41 Top Tips for Aspiring Authors
42:53 Managing Time and Staying Motivated
46:19 Looking Forward to the Future

Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love.

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first.
Madeleine: Subscribe here...